52337: Great Western Railway locomotive 5322

Served in France 1917 - 1919, now preserved at Didcot Railway Centre. Possibly the largest surviving Great War artefact is right here in Oxfordshire. She is Great Western Railway locomotive 5322 which was built in October 1917 and sent when new to France, along with other members of the class, to haul supply trains between Calais and railheads for the front line.

The locomotive is nearing the end of restoration to running order, and because of her Great War service is being painted in the khaki livery of the ROD (Railway Operating Division) with white lettering ROD and her number 5322 on the tender.

Photograph 17 May 2008 5322 turntable shows the locomotive on the turntable at Didcot Railway Centre on 17 May, partially painted.

Photograph 25 June 2008 tender shows the ROD 5322 lettering newly applied to the tender on 25 June.

Photograph 5322France1918 is a picture of the locomotive in France in 1918. The letters 5322 are just about visible on the tender. Note the RCL (Ravitaillement Calais - Ligne) board on the bufferbeam.

Photograph 5319 is another member of the same class in France.

I have also submitted a Word file with the text of an article written by C E R Sherrington in 1973. He served in the Railway Operating Division in France during the Great War and described an encounter with 5322 in France. He died soon after writing this article, which was published in the Great Western Society's magazine, Great Western Echo. I was editing the magazine at the time, and met Mr Sherrington in 1971.

5322 has already been completed mechanically, and steam tested, so the painting is the final part of her restoration. Within a few weeks she will be a working representative of all those British locomotives that were sent to France, and other theatres of the Great War.